NOI P15AC00830 Mod 2.pdf

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE: NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD

This announcement is not a request for applications.

This announcement is to provide public notice of the National Park Service’s intention to award financial assistance for the following project activities without competition.

ABSTRACT

Funding Announcement Number NPS-17-NERO-0105

Project Title Lower Delaware River W&SR Management

Plan Implementation

Recipient Hunterdon Land Trust

Anticipated Federal Funding $34,000

Non-federal Cost Share No

Anticipated Period of Performance Through July 1, 2020

Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement

Statutory Authority Section 11(b)(1) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers

Act (PL 90-452);

54 U.S.C. § 101702a

CFDA # and Title 15.962 National Wild and Scenic Rivers System

Single Source Justification Criteria Continuation; Unique Qualifications

Point of Contact Patrick Reidy, Grants Management Specialist, 215- 597-5949

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The Lower Delaware River was designated as a National Wild and Scenic River in 2000. The river is managed by the National Park Service (NPS), in partnership with the State of New Jersey, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, five counties, and 24 townships. Protection of the 65.6- mile river corridor largely lies at the local level.

STATEMENT OF WORK

RECIPIENT AGREES TO:

1. Develop and produce education, interpretive exhibits, publications, other media, programs and events that interpret the resources of the Lower Delaware River and watershed in Hunterdon

County, New Jersey.

2. Provide technical and financial support and mobilize volunteers and partners for planning, education, outreach, stewardship and research activities as they relate to the HLT-managed and state-owned lands of the Hunterdon County section of the Delaware River.

3. Support and assist projects that address the goals outlined in the Lower Delaware River

Management Committee Action Plan (2007) to maintain or improve water quality; preserve and protect natural and historic resources, open space and farmland; encourage sustainable recreational use of the river corridor; and minimize the impact of development in the river corridor.

4. Work with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, New Jersey Division of

Parks & Forestry, other state and federal agencies, counties and municipalities, educational institutions and non-profit organizations to accomplish the goals identified in the Lower

Delaware River Management Plan.

5. Coordinate with Lower Delaware River Management Committee activities, assist the

Committee in planning the annual educational forum, share progress on projects, and solicit input as needed.

6. Provide technical assistance and recommendations to the NPS and partners concerning the enhancement, restoration and management of conservation lands and river resources.

7. Recognize and credit the National Wild & Scenic Rivers and NPS in all materials developed through this Agreement.

8. Preserve lands included in projects that close as a result of this Agreement through fee-simple acquisition and conservation easements that permanently restrict the deed of such properties and are generally considered to protect the property in perpetuity without conversion to other uses or activities other than the stated purposes of conservation and/or public access.

9. Serve as the lead partner on specific projects and programs of mutual interest. (See attached

Workplan/Proposal for project details.)

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AGREES TO:

1. Provide technical support and advice and a staff liaison to further projects outlined in the attached workplan/budget.

2. Provide financial assistance, subject to the availability of funds, for the work outlined in the attached workplan/budget.

3. Make staff available for appropriate meetings and events, to assist projects relating to this

Agreement.

4. Facilitate coordination between HLT and Lower Delaware River Management Committee on appropriate aspects of long-term stewardship and conservation as they relate to the projects outlined in this Agreement.

5. Provide design guidance, editing and other technical assistance and review progress of projects and products in accordance with approved schedules in this Agreement.

SINGLE-SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

SINGLE SOURCE POLICY REQUIREMENTS

Department of the Interior Policy (505 DM 2) and National Park Service Policy FAP&P 1443-2015-06 requires a written justification which explains why competition is not practicable for each single-source award. The justification must address one or more of the following criteria as well as discussion of the program legislative history, unique capabilities of the proposed recipient, and cost-sharing contribution offered by the proposed recipient, as applicable.

In order for an assistance award to be made without competition, the award must satisfy one or more of the following criteria:

(1) Unsolicited Proposal – The proposed award is the result of an unsolicited assistance application which represents a unique or innovative idea, method, or approach which is not the subject of a current or planned contract or assistance award, but which is deemed advantageous to the program objectives;

(2) Continuation – The activity to be funded is necessary to the satisfactory completion of, or is a continuation of, an activity presently being funded, for which competition would have a significant adverse effect on the continuity or completion of the activity. A single source on the basis of continuation must demonstrate that competition would result in a substantial duplicate cost to the government that cannot be recovered through competition.;

(3) Legislative intent – The language in the applicable authorizing legislation or legislative history clearly indicates Congress’ intent to restrict the award to a particular recipient of purpose;

(4) Unique Qualifications – The applicant is uniquely qualified to perform the activity based upon a variety of demonstrable factors such as location, property ownership, voluntary support capacity, cost-sharing ability if applicable, technical expertise, or other such unique qualifications;

(5) Emergencies – Program/award where there is insufficient time available (due to a compelling and unusual urgency, or substantial danger to health or safety) for adequate competitive procedures to be followed.

NPS did not solicit full and open competition for this award based the following criteria:

(2) CONTINUATION; (4) UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS

Continuation: Since shortly after the time of the Lower Delaware’s designation as a National Wild

& Scenic River in 2000, the National Park Service has collaborated with HLT on providing technical assistance, undertaking research projects, preserving and caring for land, and educating the public, locally elected officials and planning and zoning boards to promote long-term protection of the river and its significant resources. The HLT has been a long-term member of the Lower Delaware Wild &

Scenic River Management Committee referenced in the authorizing legislation and has taken a leadership role in land preservation within the Lower Delaware River corridor. HLT has a unique understanding of wild and scenic management issues on the New Jersey side of the river in that it has worked with NPS on land conservation and stewardship programs for the last ten years on the Lower

Delaware.

Because the National Park Service does not own any land or maintain an office in the river corridor, HLT has provided the staff to track issues and opportunities and keep NPS informed of local issues within Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Hunterdon County represents 29 of the 65 miles of the Lower

Delaware National Wild & Scenic River, or almost 45% of the entire designated mainstem. HLT maintains long-term relationships and has positive standing with state agencies, Hunterdon County, and the nine Hunterdon County municipalities with river frontage along the Lower Delaware. The

HLT advises the Lower Delaware Wild & Scenic River Management Committee on river-related matters – and works with each municipal representative to relay such information to their respective municipalities. Both NPS and HLT render technical assistance to each other and collaborate on matters involving municipal zoning changes, state-planned land use changes, coordinating environmental policy among State and federal agencies and the scenic impacts of cell towers and other land uses within the river’s established federal boundary.

HLT also has a continuing critical role in specifically protecting the scenic, recreational, cultural and natural resources on the New Jersey side of the Delaware River corridor. Since its incorporation in

1996, the Hunterdon Land Trust Alliance has facilitated the preservation of over 4,000 acres of critical farmland and natural areas throughout Hunterdon County. HLTA has been working on several major land acquisitions along the Lower Delaware to protect resources that have been identified as Outstandingly Remarkable Values in the Lower Delaware Wild and Scenic River

Management Plan. In the past five years alone, HLT preserved more than 750 acres within the designated Lower Delaware corridor. HLTA developed and is implementing a model stewardship and management plan for the permanently protected public lands located in the Delaware River corridor of Hunterdon County. The stewardship program, which will serve as a model elsewhere in the state, began with the establishment of a “Friends” group made up of representatives from the townships of Alexandria, Delaware, Holland, Kingwood, and the boroughs of Frenchtown, Lambertville, Milford and Stockton, local conservation organizations and land trust staff. This committee created a five year management plan for preserved, public land within the river corridor.

The goal is to improve public access to public land, including signage, trails, and parking areas.

The activities to be funded are a continuation of the HLT’s land protection and stewardship program for the Lower Delaware. Continuing these activities with HLT is necessary in order for NPS to carry out its role under the river’s designation and the river management plan. No other organization is in a position to provide competition to HLT in carrying out the long-term resource management and protection activities associated with this role. Any attempt to compete these activities would have a significant adverse effect on the implementation of the Lower Delaware Wild & Scenic River

Management Plan.

Unique Qualifications: Hunterdon Land Trust (HLT) has the sole technical resources and capacity to carry out river-related land and resource protection on the New Jersey side of the Lower Delaware

River and has a demonstrated track record in assisting the National Park Service (NPS) in providing long-term protection of the Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River. HLT is place-based within the watershed itself and represents the local interests in the partnership management strategy for managing the Lower Delaware. Four out of the HLT’s six project regions include the Lower Delaware

River and its tributaries as well as the Musconetcong, a major tributary to the Lower Delaware that is itself designated a National Wild & Scenic River.

Hunterdon Land Trust (HLT) is a significant land manager along the river and adjacent watersheds within Hunterdon County and provides technical assistance in enhancement, restoration and management of natural and agricultural areas to other non-profits, educational institutions, businesses, private landowners, and state and local governments. HLT provides interpretation and education services to visitors and school groups, and plays a critical role as a leading conservation organization in

Hunterdon County. Through its broad geographic coverage and variety of programs and activities— including land conservation and related educational programs; agricultural lands preservation; and passive, resource-sensitive recreation--HLTA has proven to be an excellent conservation partner on the

Lower Delaware River. HLTA is the only organization dedicated to the long-term protection of natural lands and watersheds across Hunterdon County, including 29 miles of the Lower Delaware River.

HLTA coordinates with the county, municipalities, The Nature Conservancy, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and other parties in managing thousands of acres of publicly accessible preserves and natural areas in Hunterdon County. Since its incorporation in 1996, the Hunterdon

Land Trust Alliance has facilitated the preservation of over 4,000 acres of critical farmland and natural areas throughout Hunterdon County. HLTA has the sole, on-the-river technical resources and broad support across townships to carry out National Park Service (NPS)-related project work and has a demonstrated track record in assisting the State of New Jersey, Hunterdon County, townships, and area non-profits in providing protection of the Lower Delaware River through river resource education, recreation and interpretation as well as farmland preservation and conservation project work.

Hunterdon has a track record in successfully working with NPS and across municipal jurisdictions over some 15 years to conserve and manage Lower Delaware riverfront lands--HLT represents a significant section of the Lower Delaware on the NJ side which no other conservation organization is covering. The organization has continued to assist and guide local and state government agencies, as well as other non-profit organizations, in ensuring resource protection through local municipal zoning actions and ordinances, execution of the RMP, sponsorship of natural resource inventories and protected lands management plans, education initiatives, newsletters, providing zoning testimony, and a variety of other mechanisms that promote good stewardship and sound decision-making. HLT also assists other NGOs focused on preserving National Wild and Scenic River resources. Some of these NGOs also partner with the NPS. The HLT takes a leadership role in keeping local officials informed of river issues and opportunities, and for promoting resource protection within their individual municipalities.

Furthermore, the HLTA has a stable and experienced professional staff and financial capacity to work with federal funds, which is not true of many of the nonprofits that work in the conservation arena.